OLR Bill Analysis

HB 5057

AN ACT CONCERNING PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATION OF MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.

SUMMARY:

This bill establishes a penalty for a mechanical contractor who fails to obtain a certificate of registration and willfully (1) engages his or her employees in plumbing and piping or heating, piping, and cooling work or (2) supplies for work an employee who does not hold a valid license to perform such work. The bill imposes a $ 1,000 fine for a first offense and $ 2,500 for each subsequent offense.

By law, a contractor who applies for a building permit from a local building official must hire someone licensed to do plumbing and piping or heating, piping, and cooling work. Violators are guilty of a class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to six months imprisonment, up to a $ 1,000 fine, or both.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2012

BACKGROUND

Mechanical Contractor

A mechanical contractor is any corporation, association, firm, partnership, or business organization that regularly offers to the public its employees' services in plumbing and piping or heating, piping, and cooling work. He or she must have 10 or more employees and work on commercial buildings or private dwelling of four or more residential units. By law, the mechanical contractor is required to obtain a certificate of registration from the consumer protection commissioner before doing or offering to do work (CGS § 20-341t).

COMMITTEE ACTION

General Law Committee

Joint Favorable